Input during conversational session

ABSTRACT

One embodiment provides a method, including: engaging, at an information handing device, in a conversational session with a user; receiving an input from a source other than the user during the conversational session; and performing, at the information handling device, an action related to the conversational input in response to the received input. Other aspects are described and claimed.

BACKGROUND

Information handling devices (“devices”), for example smart phones,tablet devices, smart speakers, laptop and personal computers, and thelike, may be capable of receiving command inputs and providing outputsresponsive to the inputs. Generally, a user interacts with a voice inputmodule, for example embodied in a personal assistant through use ofnatural language. This style of interface allows a device to receivevoice inputs from a user (e.g., queries, commands, etc.), process thoseinputs, and provide output responsive to the input.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In summary, one aspect provides a method, comprising: engaging, at aninformation handing device, in a conversational session with a user;receiving an input from a source other than the user during theconversational session; and performing, at the information handlingdevice, an action related to the conversational session in response tothe received input.

Another aspect provides an information handling device, comprising: aprocessor; a memory device that stores instructions executable by theprocessor to: engage, at an information handing device, in aconversational session with a user; receive an input from a source otherthan the user during the conversational session; and perform, at theinformation handling device, an action related to the conversationalsession in response to the received input.

A further aspect provides a product, comprising: a storage device thatstores code, the code being executable by a processor and comprising:code that engages in a conversational session with a user; code thatreceives an input from a source other than the user during theconversational session; and code that performs an action related to theconversational session in response to the received input.

The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications,generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled inthe art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is notintended to be in any way limiting.

For a better understanding of the embodiments, together with other andfurther features and advantages thereof, reference is made to thefollowing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of information handling device circuitry.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of information handling devicecircuitry.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example method of recognizing and responding to aninput received during a conversational session.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments, asgenerally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may bearranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations inaddition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following moredetailed description of the example embodiments, as represented in thefigures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, asclaimed, but is merely representative of example embodiments.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in oneembodiment” or “in an embodiment” or the like in various placesthroughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics maybe combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In thefollowing description, numerous specific details are provided to give athorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant artwill recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practicedwithout one or more of the specific details, or with other methods,components, materials, et cetera. In other instances, well knownstructures, materials, or operations are not shown or described indetail to avoid obfuscation.

Users frequently utilize devices to execute a variety of differentcommands or queries. One method of interacting with a device is to usedigital assistant software employed on the device (e.g., Siri® forApple®, Cortana® for Windows®, Alexa® for Amazon®, etc.). Digitalassistants are able to provide outputs (e.g., audible outputs, visualoutputs, etc.) that are responsive to a variety of different types ofuser inputs (e.g., voice inputs, etc.).

For ease of readability, the exchanges between a user and the digitalassistant will be referred to herein as a conversational session. Aconversational session may include a single exchange, referred to hereinas a single-turn conversation, where the user provides an input to thedevice and the device performs the action. In other words, in asingle-turn conversation, the device can process and complete thefunction associated with the input with only a single request or inputfrom the user. As an example of a single-turn conversation, the user mayask “What song is currently playing?” The assistant can provide theresponse to the question without any additional information from theuser.

Alternatively, the conversational session may include multipleexchanges, referred to herein as a multi-turn conversation, where theuser provides an input to the device, the device provides an outputrequiring additional user input, the user provides the additional input,and so on until the exchange is complete. In other words, in amulti-turn conversation, the device requires additional user input inorder to process and complete the function associated with the initialinput received from the user. As an example, the user may provide thecommand “Order pizza.” The device then needs to ask questions inresponse to the command in order to completely fulfill the command, forexample, the device may ask “where did you want to order the pizzafrom?”, “what size pizza did you want to order?”, “what kinds oftoppings do you want on your pizza?”, and the like.

In conventional systems once the conversational session has beenstarted, the device will not recognize inputs or interruptions eitherassociated with the user or with the device. For example, if a user isproviding input to the device and someone else walks in the room andasks a question of the user, the digital assistant will attempt toprocess both the input received by the user and the additional inputprovided by the additional person. This not only results innon-responsive output by the digital assistant, but also causes the userto have to correct the assistant and provide the input again, which canbe inconvenient, non-intuitive, and confusing. First, the device isunable to determine that in interruption has occurred. In other words,the device is unable to determine that the received input was notactually directed at the device. Additionally, the device is unable toprocess an interruption in a human-like way, for example, recognizingthe interruption and determining that the interrupting input is notdirected at the assistant.

Accordingly, an embodiment provides a method for recognizing andresponding to an input received from a source other than the user duringa conversational session. An embodiment may engage in a conversationalsession with a user. An embodiment may then receive an input from asource other than the user during the conversational session. Forexample, an embodiment may detect an interruption of the conversationalsession by another person or other source. In one embodiment detectingthe interruption may include identifying that another person has enteredthe room. Detecting the interruption may also include determining thatinput was received from another user in the room. For example, anembodiment may use natural language processing and understanding todetermine that the input is unrelated to the conversational session.Upon detection of an interruption an embodiment may perform some actionrelated to the conversational session in response to the received input.For example, an embodiment may pause the conversational session, lowerthe volume of output, save the conversational session, and the like.Such a method assists a user in conducting a more human-likeconversation with the assistant by allowing the device to recognize andrespond to interruptions in a manner that is similar to how people wouldrecognize and respond to interruptions.

The illustrated example embodiments will be best understood by referenceto the figures. The following description is intended only by way ofexample, and simply illustrates certain example embodiments.

While various other circuits, circuitry or components may be utilized ininformation handling devices, with regard to smart phone and/or tabletcircuitry 100, an example illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a system on achip design found for example in tablet or other mobile computingplatforms. Software and processor(s) are combined in a single chip 110.Processors comprise internal arithmetic units, registers, cache memory,busses, I/O ports, etc., as is well known in the art. Internal bussesand the like depend on different vendors, but essentially all theperipheral devices (120) may attach to a single chip 110. The circuitry100 combines the processor, memory control, and I/O controller hub allinto a single chip 110. Also, systems 100 of this type do not typicallyuse SATA or PCI or LPC. Common interfaces, for example, include SDIO andI2C.

There are power management chip(s) 130, e.g., a battery management unit,BMU, which manage power as supplied, for example, via a rechargeablebattery 140, which may be recharged by a connection to a power source(not shown). In at least one design, a single chip, such as 110, is usedto supply BIOS like functionality and DRAM memory.

System 100 typically includes one or more of a WWAN transceiver 150 anda WLAN transceiver 160 for connecting to various networks, such astelecommunications networks and wireless Internet devices, e.g., accesspoints. Additionally, devices 120 are commonly included, e.g., an imagesensor such as a camera, audio capture device such as a microphone, athermal sensor, etc. System 100 often includes a touch screen 170 fordata input and display/rendering. System 100 also typically includesvarious memory devices, for example flash memory 180 and SDRAM 190.

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of another example of informationhandling device circuits, circuitry or components. The example depictedin FIG. 2 may correspond to computing systems such as the THINKPADseries of personal computers sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Morrisville,N.C., or other devices. As is apparent from the description herein,embodiments may include other features or only some of the features ofthe example illustrated in FIG. 2.

The example of FIG. 2 includes a so-called chipset 210 (a group ofintegrated circuits, or chips, that work together, chipsets) with anarchitecture that may vary depending on manufacturer (for example,INTEL, AMD, ARM, etc.). INTEL is a registered trademark of IntelCorporation in the United States and other countries. AMD is aregistered trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. in the UnitedStates and other countries. ARM is an unregistered trademark of ARMHoldings plc in the United States and other countries. The architectureof the chipset 210 includes a core and memory control group 220 and anI/O controller hub 250 that exchanges information (for example, data,signals, commands, etc.) via a direct management interface (DMI) 242 ora link controller 244. In FIG. 2, the DMI 242 is a chip-to-chipinterface (sometimes referred to as being a link between a “northbridge”and a “southbridge”). The core and memory control group 220 include oneor more processors 222 (for example, single or multi-core) and a memorycontroller hub 226 that exchange information via a front side bus (FSB)224; noting that components of the group 220 may be integrated in a chipthat supplants the conventional “northbridge” style architecture. One ormore processors 222 comprise internal arithmetic units, registers, cachememory, busses, I/O ports, etc., as is well known in the art.

In FIG. 2, the memory controller hub 226 interfaces with memory 240 (forexample, to provide support for a type of RAM that may be referred to as“system memory” or “memory”). The memory controller hub 226 furtherincludes a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface 232 for adisplay device 292 (for example, a CRT, a flat panel, touch screen,etc.). A block 238 includes some technologies that may be supported viathe LVDS interface 232 (for example, serial digital video, HDMI/DVI,display port). The memory controller hub 226 also includes a PCI-expressinterface (PCI-E) 234 that may support discrete graphics 236.

In FIG. 2, the I/O hub controller 250 includes a SATA interface 251 (forexample, for HDDs, SDDs, etc., 280), a PCI-E interface 252 (for example,for wireless connections 282), a USB interface 253 (for example, fordevices 284 such as a digitizer, keyboard, mice, cameras, phones,microphones, storage, other connected devices, etc.), a networkinterface 254 (for example, LAN), a GPIO interface 255, a LPC interface270 (for ASICs 271, a TPM 272, a super I/O 273, a firmware hub 274, BIOSsupport 275 as well as various types of memory 276 such as ROM 277,Flash 278, and NVRAM 279), a power management interface 261, a clockgenerator interface 262, an audio interface 263 (for example, forspeakers 294), a TCO interface 264, a system management bus interface265, and SPI Flash 266, which can include BIOS 268 and boot code 290.The I/O hub controller 250 may include gigabit Ethernet support.

The system, upon power on, may be configured to execute boot code 290for the BIOS 268, as stored within the SPI Flash 266, and thereafterprocesses data under the control of one or more operating systems andapplication software (for example, stored in system memory 240). Anoperating system may be stored in any of a variety of locations andaccessed, for example, according to instructions of the BIOS 268. Asdescribed herein, a device may include fewer or more features than shownin the system of FIG. 2.

Information handling device circuitry, as for example outlined in FIG. 1or FIG. 2, may be used in devices such as tablets, smart phones, smartspeakers, personal computer devices generally, and/or electronic deviceswhich may include digital assistants that a user may interact with andthat may perform various functions responsive to receiving user input.For example, the circuitry outlined in FIG. 1 may be implemented in atablet or smart phone embodiment, whereas the circuitry outlined in FIG.2 may be implemented in a personal computer embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 3, at 301, an embodiment may engage in aconversational session with a user. A conversational session may bedefined as a session with a digital assistant or other interactiveapplication in which a user provides input, the digital assistantprocesses or analyzes the input, and the digital assistant then providesan output responsive to the input. A conversational session may includea single exchange of input and output, referred to herein as asingle-turn conversational session, or multiple exchanges of input andoutput, referred to herein as a multi-turn interaction session. Engagingin the conversational session may include any point during theconversational session, for example, starting the conversationalsession, processing input received from a user, providing output, andthe like.

In one embodiment engaging in the conversational session may includereceiving an indication to begin a conversational session. In anembodiment, the indication to begin a conversational session may beassociated with user-provided input. In an embodiment, the user-providedinput indication may be a wakeup input or action provided by a user(e.g., one or more wakeup words or predetermined commands, a depressionof a button for a predetermined length of time, a selection of a digitalassistant icon, etc.). In an embodiment, the wakeup action may beprovided prior to or in conjunction with user input. For example, a usermay provide the vocal input, “Ok Surlexana, order a pizza.” In thisscenario, “Ok Surlexana” is the wakeup word and upon identification ofthe wakeup word an embodiment may prime the system to listen foradditional user input. Responsive to the identification of the wakeupaction, an embodiment may initiate a conversational session. In anotherembodiment, the indication may not be associated with a wakeup action.For example, the system may simply “listen” to the user and determinewhen the user is providing input directed at the system. Theconversational session may then be initiated when the system determinesthat the user input is directed to the system.

In one embodiment engaging in the conversational session may includereceiving a query from a user. The term query is used herein, however,it should be understood that a query may not necessarily include aquestion. Rather, the query may include a command or other input forprocessing by the digital assistant. The query may be receivedimmediately after the conversational session has been activated, forexample, using the pizza example mentioned above, the query (“order apizza”) is received after receipt of the activation command.Alternatively, the query may be received at another point in theconversational session, for example, in response to output provided bythe digital assistant.

During the conversational session, an embodiment may receive user input(e.g., voice input, touch input, etc.) including or associated with auser query or a user command, referred to herein as a query input, at adevice (e.g., smart phone, smart speaker, tablet, laptop computer,etc.). In an embodiment, the device may employ digital assistantsoftware capable of receiving and processing user input and subsequentlyproviding output (e.g., audible output, textual output, visual output,etc.) corresponding or responsive to the user input. In an embodiment,the user input may be any input that requests the digital assistant toprovide a response. For example, the user may ask the digital assistanta general question about a topic, the user may ask the digital assistantto provide instructions to assemble an object, the user may ask thedigital assistant's opinion on a topic, the user may make a statementwhich allows a response, and the like.

The input may be received at an input device (e.g., physical keyboard,on-screen keyboard, audio capture device, image capture device, videocapture device, etc.) and may be provided by any known method ofproviding input to an electronic device (e.g., touch input, text input,voice input, etc.). For simplicity purposes, the majority of thediscussion herein will involve voice input that may be received at aninput device (e.g., a microphone, a speech capture device, etc.)operatively coupled to a speech recognition device. However, it shouldbe understood that generally any form of user input may be utilized. Forexample, the user may provide text input to the digital assistant, forexample, through a chat assistant or instant messaging application.

In an embodiment, the input device may be an input device integral tothe digital assistant device. For example, a smart phone may be disposedwith a microphone capable of receiving voice input data. Alternatively,the input device may be disposed on another device and may transmitreceived input data to the digital assistant device. For example, voiceinput may be received at a smart speaker that may subsequently transmitthe voice data to another device (e.g., to a user's smartphone forprocessing, etc.). Input data may be communicated from other sources tothe digital assistant device via a wireless connection (e.g., using aBLUETOOTH connection, near field communication (NFC), wirelessconnection techniques, etc.), a wired connection (e.g., the device iscoupled to another device or source, etc.), through a connected datastorage system (e.g., via cloud storage, remote storage, local storage,network storage, etc.), and the like.

In an embodiment, the input device may be configured to continuouslyreceive input data by maintaining the input device in an active state.The input device may, for example, continuously detect input data evenwhen other sensors (e.g., cameras, light sensors, speakers, othermicrophones, etc.) associated with the digital assistant device areinactive. Alternatively, the input device may remain in an active statefor a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours,etc.). Subsequent to not receiving any input data during thispredetermined time window, an embodiment may switch the input device toa power off state. The predetermined time window may be preconfigured bya manufacturer or, alternatively, may be configured and set by one ormore users.

Engagement in the conversational session may also include an action bythe digital assistant. For example, engagement in the conversationalsession may include the digital assistant processing the input (e.g.,accessing a database for an answer, parsing the input to identify therequest, etc.), providing output responsive to the input (e.g., asking asuccessive question, providing audible output answering a providedquestion, providing audible output indicating a problem with responding,etc.), performing a function associated with the input (e.g., dimmingthe lights in response to a corresponding request, ordering a pizza inresponse to a corresponding request, providing a responsive output to acorresponding request, etc.), and the like. In other words, engagementin the conversational session includes any point in which aconversational session is ongoing between the user and digitalassistant, even if no input or output is being provided at that exactmoment.

At 302 an embodiment may determine whether an input from a source otherthan the user has been received during the conversational session. Forexample, an embodiment may determine whether the conversational sessionhas been interrupted by at least one other user or source. Receivinginput from a source other than the user may include receiving input froma variety of sources or detecting the input using a variety oftechniques. One embodiment may receive an input associated with anotherperson entering the same room as the user. This may signal to anembodiment that an interruption of the conversational session may beimminent. Determining if another person has entered the room may beperformed using one or more sensors or devices integral to or accessibleby the device (e.g., image capture device, thermopile sensors, nearfield communication device, microphone, audio capture device, etc.). Forexample, one embodiment may use a thermopile sensor to detect a heatsignature or heat source. The device may determine that there is morethan one heat source, one heat source has recently appeared, or thelike, to determine that a person has entered the room or another personis present within the room. The device may use heat signature techniquesto distinguish between people, pets, plants, and other heat generatingsources.

As another example, an embodiment may use an image capture device (e.g.,camera, video recorder, infrared sensors, etc.) to detect that anotherperson has entered the area. One embodiment may use radiosignatures/signals or near field communication signals (e.g.,Bluetooth®, wireless network signals, MAC addresses, etc.) to determinethat another person has entered the range of the device. As an example,an embodiment may detect wireless signals from a user's mobile device.Upon detection of a second wireless signal, an embodiment may determinethat another person has entered the same space. One embodiment mayassociate the radio signatures or near field communication signals to aparticular user. For example, an embodiment may compare the signal toknown signals and determine that the device belongs to User A. Upondetection of a second signal, an embodiment may compare the secondsignal to known signals and determine that the device belongs to User B.Alternatively, if the signals are not found to match a known signal anembodiment may assume that the signal belongs to another user.Identification of the user associated with a signal may allow anembodiment to distinguish whether it is the same user with more than onedevice or different users.

An embodiment may use sensors or devices in conjunction with othertechniques to receive an input or detect an interruption. As an example,an embodiment may use an audio capture device to detect input providedby one or more users. An embodiment may then use a technique todistinguish users or determine if the input is being provided to thedevice. For example, an embodiment may use voice identification or othertechniques to identify the user providing the input and determine thatthe user providing the input is not the same user who was previouslyproviding input. Alternatively, an embodiment may use voiceidentification or other voice differentiation techniques to determinethat input has been provided by more than one user. As an example, thesystem may identify characteristics of the input (e.g., pitch,frequency, volume, etc.) and determine that the characteristicsassociated with each input do not match each other. Thus, the embodimentmay determine that more than one user has provided input.

One embodiment may use sound source localization techniques to determinethe location or direction of the user input. An embodiment may then usethis information to determine if a new user has entered the room orprovided the input. As an example, an embodiment may determine that theuser providing the conversational session input is located at one spotin the room and the new input has been provided at a new location in theroom. Other techniques are possible and contemplated, for example,diarization techniques, signal processing techniques, blind sourceseparation techniques, and the like.

One embodiment may use natural language processing or understandingtechniques to process and analyze the input to determine if the input islikely being provided to the assistant or another user. For example, anembodiment may analyze the input to determine that the new inputprovided is unrelated to the first input, for example, the new inputincludes a different topic, the new input is non sequitur in relation tothe first input, and the like. To make this determination that the newinput is unrelated to the first input, an embodiment may use differentspeech or natural language processing techniques, for example, domainclassification, intent mapping, dialog act recognition, and the like. Anembodiment may use natural language processing or understand todetermine that the new input is not input likely to be provided to adigital assistant. For example, an embodiment may determine that theinput “Mom, what's for dinner?” is not a request that the digitalassistant could process and provide output in response to.Alternatively, an embodiment may understand that the term “Mom” is aterm that indicates that the input is directed at an individual and notthe digital assistant.

An embodiment may receive an input related to an event that may precedean interruption or give an indication that an interruption may becoming. For example, an embodiment may determine that notifications orcommunications may indicate that the conversational session may beinterrupted. Examples of notifications or communications may includesound-based notifications other than on the device (e.g., doorbell,telephone ring, etc.), incoming communications or notifications on thedevice or coupled devices (e.g., text message, calendar notification,instant message, alarm notification, etc.), communications ornotifications sent from another device (e.g., smart home doorbell, smarthome thermostat notification, alarm, etc.), or the like. In other words,events may be detected by the device that may be associated with apossible interruption or that generally lead to an interruption. Anycombination of the above techniques, sensors, and/or devices may be usedby an embodiment to detect an interruption to the conversationalsession.

If the conversational session has not been interrupted at 302, anembodiment may continue the conversational session at 304 in atraditional manner. If, however, the conversational session has beeninterrupted at 302, an embodiment may perform an action related to theconversational session in response to the received input at 303. Inresponse to receipt of the input or detection of the interruption anembodiment may use the contextual information related to the input orinterruption to perform an action. In other words, depending on the typeor manner of input or interruption, an embodiment may perform differentactions. Possible actions include, but are not limited to, pausing orhalting the conversational session, wait for the additional person tobegin talking, adjusting a characteristic of the output (e.g, loweringthe volume of provided output, speeding up the output, slowing theoutput, etc.), wait for the user to provide additional input (e.g., say“continue”, say “go on”, provide a resume gesture, etc.), save thecurrent conversational session to be resumed later, and the like.

In the case where an embodiment saves the current conversational sessionto be resumed later, an embodiment may provide techniques for resumingthe conversational session. A user may request that the conversationalsession be resumed by providing input indicating the conversationalsession should be resumed, for example, providing the input “Where werewe?”, providing the input “please resume”, or the like. One embodimentmay prompt the user to resume a session. For example, when the user iseither alone or activates the device again, the device may indicate thata session has been saved and ask if it should be resumed.

One embodiment may save all the conversational sessions and maintain alist or database of the unfinished conversations. Each session in thelist or database may be associated with information for retrieval at alater time. For example, the session may include an indication of thetopic of the conversation, a user associated with the conversationalsession, a time associated with the conversational session, and thelike. This may allow an embodiment to either search for theconversational session based upon a request by a user to continue thesession. Alternatively, an embodiment may prompt the user to continuethe session once an embodiment identifies the user as having apreviously saved conversational session.

The action performed may be chosen based upon the context of either theinput or interruption or the context of the conversational session. Forexample, if the interruption is a short interruption, providing by aparticular person, or the like, an embodiment may perform one action,whereas if the interruption is long, provided by a different person, orthe like, an embodiment may perform a different action. As anotherexample, if the conversational session is related to providing a weatherforecast, an embodiment may perform one action, whereas if theconversational session is related to a reading a bank statement, anembodiment may perform a different action.

The action performed may be previously programmed, set by a user, basedupon the user providing the input, or learned by the device. Forexample, the device may perform one action in response to a particulartype of interruption for one user, and a different action in response tothe same type of interruption for another user. Learning an action inresponse to an interruption may include the device associating an actionwith a particular context, interruption, or user. For example, thedevice may determine that a user prefers that one action be performedwhen an interruption is short and may therefore learn and store thisaction and perform it when the interruption is short. The actionperformed may also be determined based upon the emotional state of theuser. For example, if the user is annoyed, an embodiment may determinethat no output should be provided and the conversation should be savedfor later. However, if the user is happy or neutral, an embodiment mayprovide output and indicate that the conversational session will besaved for later and then save the conversational session.

The various embodiments described herein thus represent a technicalimprovement to conventional communications with a digital assistant.Using the methods and systems as described herein, the digital assistantcan recognize and respond to input and/or interruptions received duringa conversational session in a manner similar to how a person wouldrecognize and respond to an input or interruption. Rather than merelyprocessing any input during an activated conversational session, thedevice can recognize that some input may not be directed at the deviceand may perform some action with regard to the conversational session inresponse to this extra input. Such techniques provide a more intuitivedigital assistant that can recognize and respond to an interruption ofthe conversational session.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, various aspects may beembodied as a system, method or device program product. Accordingly,aspects may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment or anembodiment including software that may all generally be referred toherein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects maytake the form of a device program product embodied in one or more devicereadable medium(s) having device readable program code embodiedtherewith.

It should be noted that the various functions described herein may beimplemented using instructions stored on a device readable storagemedium such as a non-signal storage device that are executed by aprocessor. A storage device may be, for example, a system, apparatus, ordevice (e.g., an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device) or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. More specific examples of a storagedevice/medium include the following: a portable computer diskette, ahard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), anoptical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), anoptical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a storagedevice is not a signal and “non-transitory” includes all media exceptsignal media.

Program code embodied on a storage medium may be transmitted using anyappropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline,optical fiber cable, RF, et cetera, or any suitable combination of theforegoing.

Program code for carrying out operations may be written in anycombination of one or more programming languages. The program code mayexecute entirely on a single device, partly on a single device, as astand-alone software package, partly on single device and partly onanother device, or entirely on the other device. In some cases, thedevices may be connected through any type of connection or network,including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), orthe connection may be made through other devices (for example, throughthe Internet using an Internet Service Provider), through wirelessconnections, e.g., near-field communication, or through a hard wireconnection, such as over a USB connection.

Example embodiments are described herein with reference to the figures,which illustrate example methods, devices and program products accordingto various example embodiments. It will be understood that the actionsand functionality may be implemented at least in part by programinstructions. These program instructions may be provided to a processorof a device, a special purpose information handling device, or otherprogrammable data processing device to produce a machine, such that theinstructions, which execute via a processor of the device implement thefunctions/acts specified.

It is worth noting that while specific blocks are used in the figures,and a particular ordering of blocks has been illustrated, these arenon-limiting examples. In certain contexts, two or more blocks may becombined, a block may be split into two or more blocks, or certainblocks may be re-ordered or re-organized as appropriate, as the explicitillustrated examples are used only for descriptive purposes and are notto be construed as limiting.

As used herein, the singular “a” and “an” may be construed as includingthe plural “one or more” unless clearly indicated otherwise.

This disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art. The example embodiments were chosen and described in orderto explain principles and practical application, and to enable others ofordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for variousembodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particularuse contemplated.

Thus, although illustrative example embodiments have been describedherein with reference to the accompanying figures, it is to beunderstood that this description is not limiting and that various otherchanges and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in theart without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: engaging, at an informationhanding device, in a conversational session with a user; receiving aninput from a source other than the user during the conversationalsession; and performing, at the information handling device, an actionrelated to the conversational session in response to the received input.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the engaging in a conversationalsession comprises receiving a query from the user.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the engaging in a conversational session comprisesproviding output responsive to a query received from the user.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the receiving an input comprises receiving aninput from one or more devices selected from the group consisting of:thermopile sensor, image capture device, radio receiver, audio capturedevice, and operatively coupled information handling device.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the receiving an input comprises detectingaudible input unrelated to the conversational session.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the performing an action comprises halting theconversational session.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the performingan action further comprises saving a state of the conversationalsession.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the performing an actionfurther comprises resuming the conversational session based upon inputfrom the user to resume.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receivingan input comprises detecting an event indicating a possibleinterruption.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing anaction comprises adjusting an audible characteristic associated with theconversational session.
 11. An information handling device, comprising:a processor; a memory device that stores instructions executable by theprocessor to: engage, at an information handing device, in aconversational session with a user; receive an input from a source otherthan the user during the conversational session; and perform, at theinformation handling device, an action in related to the conversationalsession in response to the received input.
 12. The information handlingdevice of claim 11, wherein the instructions executable by the processorto engage in a conversational session comprise instructions executableby the processor to receive a query from the user.
 13. The informationhandling device of claim 11, wherein the instructions executable by theprocessor to engage in a conversational session comprise instructionsexecutable by the processor to provide output responsive to a queryreceived from the user.
 14. The information handling device of claim 11,wherein the instructions executable by the processor to receive an inputcomprises instructions executable by the processor to receive an inputfrom one or more devices selected from the group consisting of:thermopile sensor, image capture device, radio receiver, audio capturedevice, and operatively coupled information handling device.
 15. Theinformation handling device of claim 11, wherein the instructionsexecutable by the processor to receive an input comprises instructionsexecutable by the processor to detect audible input unrelated to theconversational session.
 16. The information handling device of claim 11,wherein the instructions executable by the processor to perform anaction comprises instructions executable by the processor to halt theconversational session.
 17. The information handling device of claim 16,wherein the instructions executable by the processor to perform anaction further comprises instructions executable by the processor tosave a state of the conversational session.
 18. The information handlingdevice of claim 11, wherein the instructions executable by the processorto receive an input comprises instructions executable by the processorto detect an event indicating a possible interruption.
 19. Theinformation handling device of claim 11, wherein the instructionsexecutable by the processor to perform an action comprises instructionsexecutable by the processor to adjust an audible characteristicassociated with the conversational session.
 20. A product, comprising: astorage device that stores code, the code being executable by aprocessor and comprising: code that engages in a conversational sessionwith a user; code that receives an input from a source other than theuser during the conversational session; and code that performs an actionrelated to the conversational session in response to the received input.